FinCEAL & VTT workshop on ICT brought experts together for an afternoon of networking
FinCEAL & VTT Workshop ICT for Societal Challenges and Information Society held on 11th March gathered together almost 50 researchers, company representatives and other experts to discuss cooperation possibilities with Africa and the LAC region in ICT and related themes.
FinCEAL & VTT Workshop ICT for Societal Challenges and Information Society held on 11th March gathered together almost 50 researchers, company representatives and other experts to discuss cooperation possibilities with Africa and the LAC region in ICT and related themes.The purpose of the workshop was to share information on current bi-regional science, technology and innovation (STI) policy dialogues, and to network and enhance interdisciplinary cooperation among researchers and companies working with the themes of e-Inclusion (including e-Infrastructures, e-Government, ICT for Agriculture), e-Health (m-Health, Health Information Systems), e-Learning (m-Learning, ICT skills), Living labs as well as Smart Cities.
The opening speeches by the representatives of the Ministry of Employment and Economy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Culture shed light on the Finnish government’s perspectives on the future of digital economy, as well as the political framework of STI cooperation between the EU and Africa and EU and the LAC region. On a more hands-on note, presentations by the invited expert speakers Yolanda Ursa (INMARK, Spain), Paul Cunningham (IIMC, Ireland) and Rubens Pereira (Amazon State University, Brazil) focused on showcasing initiatives and opportunities in research and innovation cooperation between the regions. The experts speeches were followed by a commentary by Petri Saarinen (Project Sales and BD, Nocart Oy) adding the private sector perspective to the discussion.
The second half of the workshop was reserved for
interactive group work and networking in thematic groups. Download the workshop report here.
Here’s how
the participants were feeling by the end of the workshop:
FinCEAL thanks all the participants and speakers, especially
the international guests! Thank you also
for VTT for great cooperation!
